Marathon swimmer goes the distancegoes the distance

ANGELA Thorpe could be crowned queen of the pool after her massive 34.5km swim this weekend.

From 1pm Saturday until 1am Sunday, Mrs Thorpe swam laps of Marlins Swim School's pool at Eimeo and in the process raised about $10,000 for CanTeen, the Australian organisation for young people living with cancer.

Mrs Thorpe set herself the task as part of the swim school's first annual Community Cup Challenge in memory of Mackay teenager Scott Wade who died last year of Hodgkin's disease.

Yesterday afternoon Mrs Thorpe said it was ''fantastic'' she had achieved her goal.

''I'm a bit sore this afternoon but I'll be alright,'' she said.

She also was overwhelmed by the community support she received.

Swim school students, parents, local school students and some of her friends joined her for part of the marathon swim.

''I also got great support from a lot of businesses around Andergrove,'' she said.

Two businesses Mrs Thorpe said were particularly committed to the cause were McDonald Murphy Machinery and Pioneer Cabinets.